NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPC Ltd., has commissioned and handed over a fully installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.
The chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, in a statement on Sunday, said the intervention is in furtherance of NNPC Ltd’s commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening medical infrastructure across Nigeria.
Mr Odeh said this is expected to significantly improve access to advanced diagnostic imaging services for millions of Nigerians across the South-East (Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States) as well as neighbouring Delta State.
“The intervention involved the delivery, installation, calibration, testing, and commissioning of the state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla MRI Machine alongside critical supporting infrastructure, including RF shielding systems, chillers, backup UPS systems, electrical installations, specialised imaging accessories, ventilation systems, CCTV and oxygen monitoring systems, intercom communication facilities, and other patient comfort technologies designed to ensure optimal operation of the facility,” the statement said.
Before the intervention, he said patients requiring advanced MRI diagnostic services often faced prolonged waiting periods, exorbitant costs, and the burden of travelling long distances in search of functional imaging centres.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, NAUTH Permanent Site, Anambra State, on Friday, according to the statement, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, described the intervention as a strategic investment in healthcare access, diagnostic precision, and improved patient outcomes.
Mr Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte, Emmanuella Arukwe, said that the facility aligns with the company’s commitment to building sustainable systems and impactful national institutions.
“The installation of the MRI in NAUTH exemplifies our commitment, as we intend to build enduring institutions, sustainable systems and legacies. This intervention aligns with our conviction that access to quality healthcare underpins human dignity, longevity and economic productivity,” Mr Ojulari said.
He described the company’s social investments as viable currencies that strengthen the relationship between the company’s core mandate of providing and managing energy for Nigerians and meeting stakeholders’ expectations.
In his remarks, Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, said the intervention would enhance safe and precise diagnosis and treatment for patients across the South-East region.
Mr Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, commended the NNPC Foundation for donating the MRI facility to the state, noting that the intervention would significantly improve access to quality healthcare services for the people.
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Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director, NAUTH, Joseph Ugboaja, lauded the leadership of NNPC Ltd for recognising the strategic importance of healthcare to national prosperity and well-being, while assuring the foundation of the hospital’s commitment to maximising the MRI facility for public benefit.
”For too long, patients in our catchment area have had to travel long distances to access this level of diagnostic precision, often at prohibitive costs. With this installation, we will eliminate that burden.
“The NNPC Foundation has demonstrated that corporate social responsibility is not just a policy statement but a lifeline for institutions like ours,” he said.
The Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd, Sophia Mbakwe, reiterated the company’s commitment to responsive and equitable social investments aimed at positively impacting the lives of Nigerians.
Ms Mbakwe, represented by the Chief Supply Chain Officer, NNPC Ltd, Isokariari Telema, said:“In over forty years of its existence, NNPC has stayed the course in impacting lives positively across Nigeria, supporting with infrastructural development, social amenities, educational sponsorships, and a host of other projects and initiatives that have underscored our values of Integrity, excellence and sustainability.”
